The chamber doors closed behind them.
Slowly.
Heavily.
Like something sealing fate instead of architecture.
Tetsuo didn't like it.
Places that closed behind you usually meant one thing.
No easy exit.
The room itself was massive.
Circular.
Tall enough that the ceiling disappeared into shadowed glass arches far above. Sunlight streamed through them in pale silver beams that looked almost alive.
Warriors stood along the perimeter walls.
Watching.
Waiting.
Judging.
Every single one of them carried themselves like someone who had survived battles most people wouldn't believe.
Yet none of them spoke.
Because Kaguren was standing in the center of the chamber.
Tetsuo crossed his arms.
"…Alright."
He looked sideways at him.
"Enough mystery."
Pause.
"Who exactly are you?"
Silence spread across the chamber like a ripple through water.
Several exorcists nearby reacted immediately.
One stepped forward slightly—
then stopped.
Because Kaguren raised his hand.
"Isuppose," Kaguren said calmly,
"you deserve to know."
He turned fully toward Tetsuo.
"My name is Kaguren."
Pause.
"I am thePaladinoftheExorcistOrder."
The chamber changed.
Not physically.
But emotionally.
Like gravity itself had shifted direction.
Tetsuo blinked once.
"…That sounds important."
One of the knights along the wall choked slightly.
Another looked offended.
Someone in the back actually whispered:
"He said sounds important…"
Kaguren smiled faintly.
"It means," he explained,
"I stand at the highest rank within the Order."
Tetsuo stared at him.
Longer this time.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
"That checks out."
Kaguren turned and began walking toward the center emblem carved into the chamber floor.
Tetsuo followed.
The watching exorcists adjusted their stance as they passed.
Not fear.
Respect.
Absolute respect.
"The Exorcist Order," Kaguren continued,
"exists for one purpose."
He stopped walking.
"To assist Heaven in the war against demons."
The sentence landed heavier than expected.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just true.
"For centuries," Kaguren continued,
"we have served as the bridge between the human world and Heaven's battlefield."
He looked back at Tetsuo.
"When demons cross into this world, we are the ones who remove them."
Tetsuo tilted his head slightly.
"So you're basically Heaven's cleanup crew."
A few knights looked offended again.
Kaguren didn't.
"That is one way to describe it."
He raised one hand slightly.
Symbols carved into the chamber floor began glowing faintly.
Five rings formed around them.
Each one brighter than the last.
"Our Order is structured in ranks," Kaguren said.
"The strength of an exorcist determines their responsibility."
He pointed toward the highest ring.
"Paladin."
His finger lowered slightly.
"Arc Knight."
Then lower.
"Upper First Grade."
Lower again.
"Middle Second Class."
Finally—
the outermost circle.
"Lower Third Rate."
Tetsuo watched the rings carefully.
Then asked:
"And where do you think I land?"
Kaguren didn't answer immediately.
"Nowhere yet."
Tetsuo smirked slightly.
"Honest answer."
"There is more," Kaguren continued.
He stepped forward again.
"There are two types of exorcism."
His voice echoed softly through the chamber.
"Minor Exorcism."
"Major Exorcism."
Symbols shifted again beneath their feet.
Two circles formed.
One small.
One enormous.
"Minor Exorcism," Kaguren explained,
"protects humans from spiritual influence."
"Used against lesser demons."
"Used to defend cities."
"Used to purify corrupted ground."
Then he stepped into the larger circle.
"And Major Exorcism…"
The air changed again.
"Heaven authorizes only high-ranking exorcists to perform it."
Pause.
"It is used against possession."
"High-ranking devils."
"And large-scale invasions."
Tetsuo listened carefully now.
Really listened.
Because something inside that explanation mattered.
Finally—
he asked the question he'd been carrying since the forest.
"I want the power you people use."
The chamber went silent again.
Even the observing knights straightened slightly.
Kaguren looked at him.
Carefully.
"You mean Holy Light."
Tetsuo nodded once.
"That one."
Kaguren studied him longer than before.
"You will not receive it easily."
Pause.
"You will climb."
"Train."
"Survive."
"Earn rank."
"And prove yourself worthy."
Tetsuo shrugged slightly.
"Fine."
Kaguren smiled again.
Just a little.
"In that case…"
He stepped backward.
And raised his hand.
"Show me what you can do."
The chamber reacted instantly.
Knights stepped back.
Observers moved to the edges.
A training circle cleared itself without anyone giving an order.
They had done this before.
Many times.
Kaguren stood opposite him now.
Relaxed.
Calm.
Completely unreadable.
"I need to understand your level," he said.
"Your movement."
"Your instincts."
"Your limits."
Tetsuo rolled his shoulders once.
Snowfield instincts returning immediately.
Battle posture settling naturally into place.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
Alive.
"So this is a test?" he asked.
"This," Kaguren answered,
"is an evaluation."
The entire chamber leaned forward slightly.
Waiting.
Watching.
Breathing slower.
Tetsuo smiled.
Not politely.
Not nervously.
Not respectfully.
The dangerous kind of smile.
The one demons saw last.
"Good."
He lowered his stance.
Eyes sharpening.
Energy shifting.
Presence changing.
---
"I was getting bored anyway."